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Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Law Enforcement Task Force: A Description and Implementation Guide

NCJ Number
165120
Author(s)
D Wiggins
Date Published
1991
Length
88 pages
Annotation
This report describes the multijurisdictional drug law enforcement task forces operating in Iowa, including programmatic features that enhance the effectiveness of individual task forces, and recommends steps for implementing a multijurisdictional task force.
Abstract
Iowa has 17 task forces. The descriptions of these task forces cover their longevity, size, targets, participating agencies, governing board, expenditures, local financial administration, and operational models. A section on task-force accomplishments considers the scope of the drug problem, drug law enforcement impact, law enforcement coordination, and obstacles to drug law enforcement. In the discussion of task force implementation, the report first discusses the rationale for forming a task force. Among the reasons for forming a task force is to help eliminate the jurisdictional boundaries that commonly restrict law enforcement agencies' ability to investigate cases that involve jurisdictions in addition to their own. Other implementation topics addressed are the task-force mission, the governing board, size and composition, the extension of law enforcement jurisdiction and authority, task force policies and procedures, funding, evaluation, and trouble-shooting. Appendixes contain a survey of Iowa law enforcement and prosecution, Iowa task force projects, relevant Iowa legislation, task force performance indicators, and a list of task force consultants.